It's in the little things: One-shots x2

The shard: "I'll push you OFF the Shard in a minute!" (Part 1)

Joe's POV:

Sunday.

The only day of the week that both Dianne and I have off, the only day we can spend together doing...couple things I guess. We usually try and plan a date for Sundays; whether we just go out for breakfast, lunch or dinner, whether we stay in and order, explore a new area or genuinely plan a date but this weekend, nothing has been mentioned. That is, until my adorable girlfriend woke me up, at the crack of dawn by bouncing on the bed like a puppy, yelping for me to get up because she had plans for the day-plans that clearly involve waking up before the sunrises, "Dot...it's so early, do we HAVE to get up right now or..." sitting up slightly, I stretch innocently...before lunging for the redhead and wrapping her back in my arms, dragging the wiggling body back up the bed and under the covers, "do we have time for some Sunday cuddles? I've missed this." I sigh softly, as she buries herself in the space between my neck and shoulder. "Joseph, we ALWAYS have time for cuddles, Sunday or not. If i'm late because I spent that extra ten minutes with you, then it is totally worth it." She whispers, rubbing her nose along my pulse point, smirking when she notices my heartbeat increase; "I still drive you crazy, huh?"

By god, of course she does...

"Right daydreamer, I know I said i'd happily be late for your cuddles BUT I have made plans for us, so we need to get up- you go and shower and i'll make a start on breakfast; Pancakes or smashed avocado?" she mutters, pushing herself up and out of my grasp, heading to the door without waiting for my answer.

Guess it's a surprise then...

Once showered and ready to face the day, I make my way downstairs where I find my beautiful girlfriend cooking pancakes in one of my t-shirts; the pancake mixture is EVERYWHERE...on the counter, in the pan, on the floor and most amusingly-in her eyebrow?! Sneaking round the worktop, I gently rest my hands on her hips, chin placed on her shoulder, coupled with a kiss to her temple on the way down. It is the times like this that I love the most, times like this I thought I would never experience because I genuinely thought I was going to be stuck with one-night stands that disappeared in the morning and were never seen again. Now, I fall asleep, holding the girl of my dreams, the woman I love, the one I plan to marry and then we can recreate this scene in front of me, with pancakes stacks for our kids.

"I don't know what you are thinking about Joseph but you really were in dreamland there! Gosh your eyes are so blue right now, I love them." She grins, spinning round in my arms to place a sweet kiss on my lips, "Can you pass the Fage please? I just need to add the yoghurt and then your stack is all done little one, let's eat and then i'll get ready quickly so we can get on with the rest of our day! I'm so excited for our plans Joe, I hope you enjoy it too. It's my turn for date day and I've been planning this for a while!" She giggles...

I don't deserve this girl, not in the slightest.

Dianne's POV:

So...it has been a good few weeks since either Joe or I have had the energy to have a real date day since strictly started back and waitress has been in full flow and I think we have both missed the connection we share in those little moments. Every single day we wake up together, we co-exist peacefully, holding each other when we can and affectionate moments when they arise. Stolen kisses in the kitchen as we hustle past each other in the mornings, gentle caresses as one of us slides into bed beside the other, leaving the other to sleep but not wanting to waste a second together, whispered "I love you's " as we share a coffee half asleep, at an ungodly hour in the morning before I sprint off to a workout or to training.

These are the moments that matter the most but every now and then, Joseph deserves to be spoiled rotten because lets face it...he spends his life looking for little ways to spoil me! Whether it be bringing me back a pie from the show, a bunch of flowers or even just some chocolates, that boy never fails to make me feel special and now it's my turn to show him just how much I love him. We have recently been talking a lot about places we want to visit and the ones that keeps coming up is the Chrysler building in New York, the tallest building in Dubai- all beautiful places but not ideal dates at this moment...although Dubai is a serious contender for Joseph's 30th I reckon. What we can do is visit the Shard in our very own London though...

So that is exactly what I have booked us; a one-night stay in The Shard and a nice lunch in the restaurant before we check in. The annoying thing is that Joe has been guessing that I have booked it for the last twenty minutes of our car ride and whilst I keep down playing it, he knows he is right...I guess it's the thought that counts though. "Dot! I can't believe this, this is amazing! Dianne, look at me I love this and I absolutely love you! Hey, hey, don't get upset! Oh love! Come here you softy!" I tried so hard to hide my emotions, to pretend but as always, Joe could read the disappointment  etched on my face and the tear that threatened to spill down my face. "I'm so sorry Joseph, i'm being stupid and ruining it for you already. I was just so excited to surprise you is all, you deserve to be spoilt silly and you work so hard...ignore me, lets get inside before we freeze!" taking his hand, I drag him towards the entrance, desperate to get on with our stay and stop wasting our precious time together. "DOT! Stop a minute, please! Come here sweetheart, I know there is more to this but I won't push it, you'll tell me when you are ready. But before we go in, I want to do this..." Without warning, his lips crash to mines, one hand finding its way into my hair and the other to my waist, deepening the kiss and holding me as close as possible. "This is because I love you, surprise or not, you have taken we away for a night and i'm so grateful for it all! Now, no more tears or disappointment my girl, or i'll push you OFF the shard in a minute. Let's go explore!"